Introduction

Hopefully you’ve worked through steps so far to understanding the 2 of Wands in the first two installments of the series, by first spending time observing the card, taking note of what comes up when you look at it, and then by meditating on the card.

In this installment, we will be considering the suit and the element of the 2 of Wands, and considering what the number 2 represents. We look at these two aspects so that when we are in the moment of reading the card, we can remember the foundation upon which it is built, and use that to guide us in our interpretation.

Wands/Fire

The Wands are represented by the element Fire. Consider what it is that Fire is to you. It could be considered electricity, which is hot. Thus, we use heat to cook our food, boil our water, clean our food, water, utensils, our hands, our bodies. We use it to stay warm in the winter, we need the heat and light of the sun to make our food grow.

When we are in positions of extreme emotion, we are burning. We are hot with angry, tears are hot on our faces, we burn with lust, we grow warm with love. These are all motions of passion, and passion is one of the correspondences to fire.

From this passion, creation is born. As already stated, we need the sun to grow our food, and thus it is through the application of Fire’s energy (though perhaps not literal fire) that we encourage things to grow. An idea comes to fruition only through the application of passion. Passion is what drives us, what fuels our action, and inspires us.

Because of this, it is also the element of creative energy. Passion morphs into creativity which produces growth.

In the Zodiac, the astrological signs that correspond to fire are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, which are all passionate in their ways. Aries has a passion of self, Leo has a passion of heart, and Sagittarius has a passion of learning. These correspond to the body, spirit and mind, respectively.

When considering how to bring the energy of fire into your life, consider what you need to fuel your creative force, what is it you’re burning to bring into the world, and how can you use it to make that happen?

2

In Tarot numerology, the number 2 corresponds to duality, harmony, balance and unity.

The number 1 is the first dot, the first point from which creation begins. It is the idea, the start that has to exist in order for all else to exist. To create the 2, another point must be made, and thus there are two 1’s. They are two ideas which are not the same for they are separate, but they are similar, and when put together begin creation. Between the two 1’s a line can be drawn, and that is the action put forth by the idea. This is what the 2 represents.

It is the union, harmony and balance between two 1’s, which bring forth action.

The number 2 corresponds to the High Priestess, which will be the Card of the Week in 4 weeks from writing this. She is the feminine counterpart to the Magician, and thus represents the passive energy of the Magician. The 2 then represents a passivity, a balance between the internal and external, the union of idea and action.

Conclusion

Hopefully considering the element and the number create a better foundation for your understanding of the 2 of Wands. It is a melding of passion leading to creativity leading to creation and the resonance of harmony and unity. By combining idea (1) with passion, creation can happen, the first line will be drawn, and thus the beginning of the journey.

The Decks Used

The Aquarian Tarot in a Tin by Italian-born, American-raised David Palladini, was published originally in 1970 by U.S. Games Systems Inc, and then republished again in 2016 in a smaller size. Named after the Age of Aquarius, the Aquarian Tarot is a midieval depiction of the Rider-Waite Tarot system. The images are closer, and thus might give the impression of being more character-based rather than relying on symbolism. This intimate deck provides a stark reflection of the human condition in it’s journey through the tarot.

Faerie Tarot by Nathalie Hertz, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc, 2008. Hertz is a French artist, and the creator of several other beautiful tarot decks. The Faerie Tarot was ‘inspired by the flora and fauna of the French countryside,’ and ‘invites you to see the world in a delightful new way…blending fantasy, whimsy, and nature.’

Impressionist Tarot by Arturo Picca (artist) and Corrine Kenner (author), published by Lo Scarabeo in 2015. This deck takes works of classic impressionist paintings and recreates them to fit the meanings of the tarot. It pulls from works of Edonard Manet, Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Vincent van Gough, and Paul Gauguin. A truly beautiful deck, especially for those who have interest in the art world.

Prisma Visions Tarot by James R. Eads, 3rd ed., published in 2016. The deck itself is beautiful, though perhaps not for the beginning tarot reader. The suits all fit together to create a master picture displaying the energy and progression of the suits. The figures and images flow from one card to the next, showing movement within the stationary cards.

Rider-Waite by A. E. Waite. The deck used in these photos is currently out of print. I won’t say much about this deck, as it is fairly standard and probably one of the most produced decks. It serves as a standard for many tarot readers and artists, depicting classic images relating in part to the original playing cards that tarot developed from.

The Spiral Tarot by Kay Steventon. With turn-of-the-20th-century style art, this deck takes from the classic Rider-Waite deck and brings it up to the late 1800-early 1900’s, a time of industry and contemplation for the western world as it moved forward into a more technological era. I am a little biased toward this deck as it’s been my main deck for 15 years. The cards are thick with additional symbolism that can be tricky to pick out of the traditional Rider-Waite, and adds layers of Greek myth throughout the Major Arcana.

Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley (designer and author) and Lady Frieda Harris (artist), published by U. S. Games Systems, Inc., in 1978. This deck takes from most esoteric imagery, and requires the reader of the deck to have deep, initiate knowledge of the symbolism used. There is nothing within the cards that is without meaning. However, on a more surface level, the deck draws from Egyptian symbolism and from the style of the Marseille Tarot (mostly seen within the Minor Arcana). For those looking for deeper understandings of the universe, I recommend this deck. I would caution that this deck is highly advanced, and might be avoided for the budding reader.

Vampire Tarot – by Nathalie Hertz, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. in 2000. As mentioned above in reference to the Faerie Tarot, Hertze is a French artist who gained her notability through the publication of her tarot decks. The Vampire Tarot was a bestselling deck upon its release, and plays on more gothic symbolism, providing more jarring interpretations to allow for the accepting of negative forces within the world to compliment the positive forces. The deck brings together myths and legends in the form of vampires, which ‘gives tarot readers a macabre passport’ into the world of divination.